Higgins recognizes National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month on House Floor

by jmaloni

Submitted

Fri, Sep 20th 2013 08:30 pm

Congressman
Brian Higgins, a member of the Congressional childhood cancer caucus, spoke
from the House Floor to recognize September as National
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

In
his remarks, Higgins highlighted the work of Roswell Park Cancer Institute and
Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo in caring for young cancer patients.
He urged his colleagues to support greater federal investments in cancer
research.

The
full text of Higgins' remarks is below:

"Mr.
Speaker, I rise in support our children suffering the unthinkable as we
recognize September as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

"Cancer
is the leading cause of death from disease among U.S. children over the age of 1.
Moreover, cancer kills more children than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy,
AIDS, asthma and juvenile diabetes combined.

"There
are many organizations doing good work to raise awareness, conduct research and
treat children with cancer, including Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Women
& Children's Hospital of Buffalo who are working together in Western New
York to cure our youngest cancer patients.

"Our
children deserve to be cancer-free; they deserve the opportunity to be just
kids and to have a full life; they deserve a cure. We owe it to them and their
families to make it happen by supporting strong federal investments in cancer
research - far beyond (what) we're doing today."

Higgins
is a consistent voice for cancer patients in Western New York on Capitol Hill. Earlier
this year, he stood
with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and Roswell Park to
detail the local impact of sequestration and funding cuts on the medical
research community. He testified
before the House Budget Committee calling for the doubling of the nation's
commitment to cancer research. Higgins also introduced H.R.
1801, bipartisan legislation that would ensure insurance parity for
chemotherapy drugs.